Conclusion

The Avengers have concluded our blog “Standardized Failure” after four weeks of posting an opposing view to administering standardized tests. Overall, we found a few general themes that support our argument against standardized testing:

o   They do not measure the ability to think deeply or creatively in any field

• Standardized tests measure test taking ability

o   Teaching to the test leaves deficiencies in a child’s knowledge and performance later in life

• It lends more toward memorization than application of critical skills

o   Failed standardized tests lead to grade retention

• It increases a student’s chance of dropping out
• Lowers his or her probability of obtaining a successful career in the future
• Failing a test will more than likely lead a student to criminality

o   Standardized tests put students who are minorities or lower class at a disadvantage

• Many students who take these tests speak English as a second language
• Students from affluent families have more resources to their advantage
  

  Created by Adam Zyglis

Here is an alternative that could possibly replace standardized testing:

o   Authentic or Performance Testing

• Structured around doing rather than bubbling in answers
• Ask students to make a product or complete a task, performance or exhibition

If you are interested in learning more about our position on standardized testing, we advise you to start with these posts:

• Standardized Testing Leads to Increased Grade Retention
• Calling for Change
• Accommodate, Don’t Discriminate
• New York Defends Standardized Tests for Students as Movement Against Them Builds

We appreciate your support over these past four weeks and would like for our followers to continue pushing against standardized testing.

New Yorkers Protest Standardized Tests

Source: S. Jhoanna Robledo

The images above are from a protest that occurred in New York on April 11. Many of the protestors are principals, teachers, parents, and students who are against the state’s emphasis of standardized testing.

Are Students Who Send Standardized Test Scores to Colleges Really Better Off?

http://www.npr.org/2014/02/18/277059528/college-applicants-sweat-the-sats-perhaps-they-shouldn-t

Source: www.sacredheartpgh.org

The article above compares students who decided to apply to schools that did not require SAT or ACT scores with those who sent their scores to colleges.

The Future of Our Education System

Source: speedbump.com

The artist makes a statement by creating a high school that is solely focused on a standardized test. “It was inevitable” shows that the artist believes this is what our education system is moving toward.

Education Reporter Takes Standardized Test

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/09/299073572/an-education-reporter-puts-himself-to-the-standardized-test

Created by Carol Simpson

An education reporter attempted to take a standardized test himself. He continues to discuss core-aligned tests that will replace the state exams.

Standardized Testing Leads to Increased Grade Retention

Many states employ test-based retention policies that prevent students from promoting to the next grade if they do not test at least proficient on state standardized exams. Not only does retaining a student because of standardized testing affect them emotionally, but it also hinders their academic career. According to research, retained students drop out more often than other students. The reason for this is that older students in lower grades have low self-confidence and become outcasts in school. A couple key states that implement these policies are Chicago and Baltimore.

Created by Veff Parker

Chicago reported having its highest-grade retention rate since implementing test-based retention policies in 1996. A study found that students who were retained for not scoring proficient on the standardized test continued to do poorly. In fact, students who struggled in the year that they repeated, had higher rates of special education placement and had no advantage over the students who were promoted. The 6^th grade students in the study had lower achievement growth due to being held back a year. Baltimore reported that more than 25 percent of its students would be retained this year mostly because of standardized testing.Because a high percentage of retained students dropout, they are less likely to enroll in a university and have lower education and employment status. These individuals tend to be paid less than those who aren’t retained.

Created by Dan Vasconcellos

With a lower achievement growth, students who were subjected to grade retention have a high chance of being delinquent. Studies mention a two-year achievement gap between youth who commit crime and those who don’t. Once students fall behind and separate themselves from other students, they begin skipping class and become involved in behaviors that lead to their suspension. Such behaviors are not only key indicators of juvenile delinquency, but also are linked to future criminality in adulthood. This could be a diect indicator for why Chicago and Baltimore are known for having high crime rates.

What started out as an attempt to make sure students had an equal chance at academic promotion, resulted in a policy that heightened dropout rates, lowered a student’s chance of career success and increased the chance of criminality within a student.

Education Experts Debate Standardized Testing

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/other/education-experts-debate-high-stakes-testing-public-schools-f8C11349956

 Source: classroomstruggle.org

In October, a panel of educational leaders discussed standardized testing as a part of the Education Nation Summit. A superintendent of Montgomery County Schools in Maryland was very outspoken. “The problem is today we are using them only solely for accountability purposes, linking student test scores to teacher performances,” Joshua Starr said. His take on testing introduces a new view of standardized testing: its impact on teachers. We tend to only focus on the effect testing has on students, but it also places a lot of pressure on teachers.

Picture Depicts Difference Between Learning and Testing

Created by Peggy Monahan

The picture above visually represents the difference between teaching students for the sake of their education and teaching students for an exam. Teaching for the sake of a student’s education will leave them will knowledge on several topics and the opportunity to be creative. On the other end, teaching for an exam will leave students with the memory of filling in answers on their answer sheets.

The Simpsons’ Take on Standardized Testing

The clip above touches on several key points regarding the negative aspects of standardized testing. Her reassuring the students that the exam has no affect on their grade shows that there is no educational benefit from taking the test. It also recognizes that the exam will determine their educational progression regardless of what they learned during the year.

Florida Schools Experience Drop in Standardized Testing Scores

In 2012, only 27 percent of Florida’s 4th graders passed the Florida’s Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). A year prior, 81 percent of students passed the same test. The blame is put on the exam itself and not the students. After lowering the passing grade, individuals are worrying that the exams do not reflect students’ intelligence, but that they are a product of education officials trying to get better scores. The two gentlemen in the video believe that the focus should be put on teaching students and not preparing simply for the standardized test.